Brown stains from a dropped cup of coffee….drops of juice spilled from a glass full of beverage…muddy shoe soles getting wiped clean….there are uncountable reasons why your carpet can be soiled and stained. And these are reasons over above the general tear and wear which the flooring has to endure due to everyday use. No wonder carpets are the must susceptible to dirt, spots and stains under the home/office upholstery category
Luckily, this is a common problem. And for common problems there are more than one solutions! So, in this post we’ll tell you 4 methods of cleaning your carpets along with the Pros and Cons of each. Read on…
Why Carpet Cleaning
Be it a office or your home, the ceiling and flooring must always be showcased in a positive light. The prestige of a corporate office or the ambience of your home can be easily compromised if carpeted flooring looks dull or worse remains riddled with stains. And stubborn stains are not easy to rid of with general hand scrubbing. So, when it comes to carpeting, you need to take proper measures to maintain it in a clean and in tip-top condition. Here are 4 ways to do that –
1. Using Carpet Absorbent Cleaners
This procedure is often referred to as Dry Cleaning, since there’s no virtual use of water. A fairly common process to clean carpets wherein a dry absorbent compound which contains detergent, solvent, and water in small quantities, is sprinkled on the surface of the carpet. The main purpose of this compound is to attract and absorb the dirt, grime and soil. A brush cleaner with mechanical action is worked into the carpet. The dislodged dirt is absorbed by the cleaning compound after which a thorough vacuuming session follows through.
Pros
- Simple and straight forward method
- Very little water is used in the process, there is no drying time involved
Cons
- Powder (detergent) may remain trapped for thick carpets
- Not able to clean deep down into the carpet
2. Carpet Shampooing
The concept here is to create a heavy foam and have it worked into the carpet fibers with the rotating brushes of a machine. When the foam dries the resulting residue attracts the soil in the carpet which then needs to be vacuumed the next day. Two of the commonly used machines in this process are rotary shampoo machine and cylindrical foam machine.
Pros
- Simple, fast and affordable method
- Rotating brushes provide good agitation
Cons
- Dirt is piled and buried in the carpet
- Extensive vacuuming is required before and after the process
3. Bonnet Method
This method utilizes an absorbent pad. After a cleaning product or solution is sprayed onto the carpet, the rotary buffer or bonnet (absorbent pad) operated by a floor machine scrubs the mixture with a rotating motion. Carbonated water may be used in this process to provide with better soil suspension. Even though considered as a dry cleaning method the carpet is actually wet and requires some time to dry up.
Pros
- Fast, simple method that does not cost much.
- Good for lightly soiled carpets.
Cons
- Cleaning is superficial since its not able to reach deeper down.
- Dirt and chemicals accumulates at the bottom of the carpet fibers.
4. Steam Cleaning
Also known as Hot Water Extraction this method is often referred to as a deep cleaning procedure to clean carpets. It is one of the best ways of carpet cleaning which uses a combination high water pressure for agitation, and hot water to increase reaction rate. The carpet is first treated with chemical regaents, after which a fine spray of pressured hot water is injected, which is followed by an intensive vacuuming where the gunk is sucked up into a holding tank.
Pros
- Widely used method that provides thorough cleaning (from deep down in the carpet)
- Ensures chemical reactivity facilitated by agitation, makes good use of cleaning solvents
- Recommended by carpet manufacturers & cleaning experts
Cons
- Long drying time
- Requires expensive equipment hence relatively higher cost
Despite best efforts, any carpet will eventually become a victim of spills, drops, accidents and of course the dirt beneath your shoes. Mere vacuuming is not a feasible solution even though you would do it every second day. Thus, it’s best to let professional carpet cleaners and experts do their work and provide you with spotless, clean and fresh carpets that look and feel like new.
